Device for automatic detection of the number of spots on the top side of a dice for use on a professional basis

ABSTRACT

A gaming apparatus for execution of table games using playing dice and chips is described, which automatically monitors, records and analyzes all the game proceedings. This gaming apparatus includes a device for automatically detecting the state of movement of playing dice and counting pips on upper-facing sides of the playing dice. This device includes at least one camera, connected with a digital image processor, and a computer with an EDP-program for determining a total number of pips on the upper-facing sides of the dice. It cooperates with devices for automatically detecting the location and amount of the bets placed by transponder chips. The computer with the EDP program also analyses the movements of the dice to determine that they have been played in accordance with the rules of the game, e.g. that they have struck the cushion on the gaming table and have rebounded into the playing area on the gaming table.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a playing arrangement for the professionalexecution of the game of chance “Craps” and allied games using playingdice and chips, and as a special sub-aspect relates to an arrangementfor automatically detecting the number of pips of the upper side of aplaying dice.

Craps is a fast and exciting dice game played on a large gaming table inthe shape of a rectangle with rounded corners and bounded by a cushion.The playing area of the gaming table is approximately 4 m long andapproximately 1 m wide; the height of the cushion amounts toapproximately 30 cm. The game “Craps” is played with two playing dicebearing 1 to 6 pips on their sides. The two dice are played in one throwso that the number of pips of one throw, i.e. the sum of the pips of theupwardly facing sides of the playing dice, can amount to between 2 and12.

The gaming table is covered with a cloth on which the sections andsymbols required for the execution of the game are drawn (layout). FIG.1 illustrates a layout of such a gaming table.

The stakes are placed in the form of chips which are positioned on thesections of the layout. The chips with which the bets are placed and thewinnings are paid out consist of disc-shaped plastic counters, theplaying value of which is indicated on the one hand by an imprintedvalue (for example 1, 5, 25, 100, 500, 1000) and on the other hand by acolour (e.g. blue, red, green, yellow) or colour combination (e.g.blue-red, green-yellow-white).

The number of players is basically unlimited but advantageously shouldnot exceed 12. However, only one single player, the thrower or shooter,throws the dice.

The game of “Craps” is supervised and led by a plurality of casino gamesupervisors, also referred to as dealers or croupiers.

The betting options are extremely diverse and depend in different waysupon the number of pips in each case thrown by the shooter.

A review of the method of play, the betting options and the winning oddsfor the game “Craps” will be given in the following making reference toFIG. 1.

The shooter and co-players firstly place their stakes for a “pass line”bet or a “don't pass” bet and position their chips on the “pass line”section or the “don't pass bar” section.

Then the shooter selects two dice from a set of five dice presented tohim by the dealer and throws these in one shot, using the same hand,from one end of the gaming table along the full length thereof towardsthe broad side of the other end of the table; the dice strike againstthis end of the table, rebound from the cushion into the playing area,and come to rest. In order that the dice rebound in a motion whichcannot be controlled by the shooter, the cushion is preferably coveredwith knobs. If one of the dice should not reach the cushion, remain incontact with the cushion or, after impact, leave the playing area acrossthe cushion, the throw is invalid and must be repeated.

If the shooter's first throw, the so-called “come out roll”, produces a7 or 11, the pass-line bets have immediately won and are paid out by thebank with odds of 1:1, whereas the “don't pass” bets have automaticallylost and are collected in by the bank. It is on account of theseimmediately decisive values 7 and 11 that the game “Craps” is also knownas “Seven Eleven”.

If on the other hand the “come out roll” produces a 2 or 3, the “don'tpass” bets win and the “pass-line” bets lose. If the “come out roll”produces a 12, the pass-line bets lose and the don't pass bets aresubject to a “stand-off” (neither win nor lose).

In the above described cases the same shooter continues to throw thedice until he throws a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and thus sets the “point”which is critical for the following course of play. The “point” can ofcourse also be obtained with the “come out roll”.

After the “come out roll”, as indeed after every further throw, previousplayers and new players can place stakes again, and indeed for all thediverse betting options which will be referred to later in thedescription.

When the point is set, the shooter throws the dice again until he haseither thrown 7 pips (the shooter “sevens out”) or has obtained thepoint again. If the point is obtained before the 7, the “pass-line” betswin and the “don't pass” bets lose, and if the 7 is obtained before thepoint, the win and lose situation is the reverse.

If the shooter is out, the game supervisor appoints the next shooter andthe game continues as described with reference to the first shooter.

As soon as the “point” is set, in addition to the “pass-line” and “don'tpass” bets, “Craps” permits a wide variety of further bets, thus thebets “come”, “don't come”, “odds”, “buy and lay”, “place bets to win”,“hardways” “field”, “any seven”, “any craps, “two craps or aces”,“twelve craps”, “three craps or ace-deuce”, “eleven”, “horn high bets”and more.

These bets are in part dependent upon the point and in part independentthereof. Hardways bets can be placed only by the dealer. Certain betscan be increased, reduced, withdrawn or declared “off” in the course ofthe game. Some bets apply only to the respective next throw (“one rollbets”), thus for example bets on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. In somecases a 5% payment (“vigorish”) must be made to the bank. The winningodds are inversely proportional to the statistical winning probabilitiesand range between 1:2 and 30:1 comprising the following odds: 1:2, 2:3,5:6, 1:1, 7:6, 6:5, 7:5, 3:2, 9:5, 2:1, 4:1, 7:1, 9:1, 15:1, 30:1.

It is unnecessary to master the rules of the game in order to understandthe invention. It should merely be noted that the game Craps is highlydiverse and complicated and makes very high demands on the up to fivedealers per gaming table in terms of attention, supervision of playersand their bets, and in terms of the calculation skills of the dealer indetermining the players' winnings, it being necessary to balance thebank after each throw.

The invention is based on the following problem area.

Casinos are lacking in technical monitoring facilities for dice gamesplayed as table games (live games). This applies in particular to thehighly diverse game “Craps”, but also to other dice games. Even with ahigh outlay in personnel and optical monitoring systems, considerablesecurity gaps exist.

In view of the speed of play and diversity of the game Craps, aparticular insecurity factor relates to maintaining the continuouslyhigh level of attention and concentration which is required of thedealers for monitoring, and complying with, the game rules and ensuringthat the winnings are correctly determined and paid out to the players.

Therefore it is necessary to find a solution whereby the game procedurescan be monitored and recorded as comprehensively and reliably aspossible and whereby the dealer can be assisted in correctly determiningthe winning odds and winnings resulting from the placed stake. Adesirable monitoring, recording and win-determining system of this kindmust be capable of detecting errors and incorrect decisions on the partof dealers and assisting in the correction thereof. In the event ofdifferences of opinion between players and dealer or between the casinooperator and the dealers, it is to be possible for every game which hastaken place to be reliably reconstructed in full in some way, at leastin terms of placed stake, selected bet and resultant winnings amount.

The advantages of the desired solution are obvious. Incorrectinfluencing of the course of the game by dealers, in particular to theadvantage of players, is prevented. Dealers can justify themselves inthe event of disputes on the part of players. The winnings payouts arecalculated for the dealer. The settlement between dealer and bank isconducted correctly and simply. It is also desirable to obtainverifiable information on the professional qualities of the dealers, andto gain knowledge about the individual playing strategies of particularplayers. The possibility of being able to create a player profile basedon objective statistical data is also of interest to the casinomanagement.

To implement the described concept for the solution of the describedproblem area, the invention is based on the objective of makingavailable an automatic monitoring, control and recording system which,in particular in the case of the game Craps, monitors, records andstores all the playing moves, from the throw of the dice to thedetermination and calculation of the players' winnings, and whichenables the acquired data to be analyzed and made available under thevarious play-related and casino-management aspects.

This requires the following amongst other things:

The course of the game is to be capable of being automatically detected,as far as possible in respect of all its phases and, by means of acomputer and an electronic data processing program (EDP program),recorded, stored and reproduced on display devices; the display devicesare intended for the dealers, optionally also for the casinoadministration, and in particular also for the players.

For this purpose a device is to be provided for automatically detectingthe dice movements and the number of pips thrown on the dice.

The gaming table is to comprise devices for automatically detecting theoccupation by chips of the sections for the stakes. The playing sectionsmust be able to be assigned to the different betting options.

The value of the chips used for each bet is in each case to be detected,processed and stored.

The EDP program is in particular to detect the value of the stakes,recognise and add the number of pips showing on the two dice, recognisethe selected bets including the placed stakes, and after each throwdetermine in accordance with the game rules which of the bets has won orlost or has remained undecided. Additionally the EDP program is tocalculate the winnings and assign these to the betting positions by anoptical display, for example on one or more screens. The EDP program isalso to detect and indicate when the shooter must seven out.

This complex objective is achieve by a gaming apparatus comprising

a gaming table with a game cloth and sections, lines, areas or zones,predefined on the game cloth, for placement of chips for table games,especially craps;

playing dice for these table games;

means for automatically counting pips on upper-facing sides of theplaying dice including at least one TV camera or CCD image converter anda digital image processor (DIP) connected with the it for processingoutput signals from it;

means for detecting, analysing, displaying and storing sequences anddata of game events, which include detectors arranged under the gamecloth of the gaming table for detecting which of the sections, lines,areas or zones the chips occupy, means for automatically detectinglocations at which stakes in the form of the chips are placed and thusthe type of bets placed, means for detecting values of the stakesdetected by the means for automatically detecting and a computer with anEDP program, created in accordance with game rules, for analysing imagedata from the digital image processor in order to determine a movementstate of the playing dice on a playing surface and in order to determinea total number of the pips on the upper-facing sides of the playing dicewhen the playing dice come to rest on the playing area, and foranalysing signals from the means for detecting the locations and thevalue of the stakes placed and optionally from other signal generators;and

at least one display device for displaying analysed game course datarelating to game play supplied to the at least one display device fromthe computer.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of this gaming apparatus forplaying craps the computer with the EDP program include means foranalysing the image data from the digital image processor to establishwhether or not the playing dice have been simultaneously thrownaccording to the rules of the game, whether or not both dies have struckthe cushion at the other end of the gaming table providing the playingarea, one of the dies has left the playing area or the playing dice haveboth come to rest on the playing area.

In preferred embodiments of the gaming apparatus the detectors, arrangedunder the game cloth, for determining occupation or non-occupation ofthe sections, lines, areas or the zones provided for placement of thechips are light-sensitive sensors for recording light passing throughthe game cloth.

Preferably respective chips are provided with corresponding integratedtransponders and a radio frequency identification (RFID) device fordetecting the location and the value of the stakes Is placed in the formof the chips. The radio frequency identification device comprises atransmitting and receiving station and the integrated transponderscooperate with the transmitting and receiving station, so that, inresponse to high-frequency data signals from the transmitting andreceiving station, the transponders send back data characteristic of aplay value of the chips by radio transmission to the transmitting andreceiving station, which includes means for analysing the datacharacteristic of the play value. In various preferred embodiments theat least one camera of the device that counts pips is a TV camera or aCCD image converter. The means for automatically counting pips alsoadvantageously includes a spectral filter, placed in front of the atleast one camera, for absorbing coloured light reflected by the playingdice, and a flash lamp, controllable by the EDP program, arranged in thevicinity of each camera.

Preferred embodiments of the gaming apparatus include a cushion,bounding the playing surface, and a plurality of impact sensors arrangedin the cushion for detecting an impact of the playing dice against thecushion. Also the computer with the EDP program advantageously comprisesmeans for activation of the at least one camera for discontinuous camerarecording action in response to a signal from at least one impact sensorgenerated in response to an impact of the playing dice on the cushion.

Prior Art and Application Thereof to the Invention

The prior art offers means of equipping the gaming table with devicesfor automatically detecting the playing sections occupied by chips andalso for detecting the stakes placed in the form of one chip or a pileof chips. Thus means of implementing both aspects (automatic detectionof the occupation of the gaming table by chips; automatic detection ofthe individual stakes) are given in WO 96/14115 A1 and in thecorresponding EP 0 790 848 B1 which relate to a “game system for theprofessional execution of table games using playing cards and chips, inparticular the game ‘Black Jack’”.

In the present invention, to automatically detect whether chips or pilesof chips have been deposited or not on a surface or zone or line definedby the layout of the playing area of the Craps table, it is thuspossible to use detectors which are arranged under the game cloth andwhich respond to changed pressure conditions or changed light conditionsupon the setting down or removal of the chips. Preferably,light-sensitive sensors, in particular photo-diodes sensitive toIR-light, are used under such a game cloth which is partiallylight-transparent. The darkening of the photo-diodes caused by thedeposited chip then triggers a signal which is fed to an automaticallyrecording computer unit. The active yes-no circuit only indicateswhether a chip is placed on the gaming table or not; accordingly thesedetectors are known as occupation detectors.

To also detect and automatically record the playing value of thedeposited chip or pile of chips, as disclosed in WO 96/14115 A1 it ispossible to use scanners which react to strip patterns or coloured ringsat the edges of the chips. However it is particularly advantageous andconvenient to use so-called smart chips as playing chips. These arechips with an embedded transponder. Such transponders are battery-freeelectronic components which serve as responders within a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) system, such that they react to the radio signalsof a transmitting-receiving device arranged for example under the gamingtable. The radio signals emitted via an antenna of the transponderincorporated in the chip are i.a. specific to the playing value of thechip. Thus, in a manner known per se, the playing value of not only onesingle chip, but also of a pile of such transponder chips can bedetected. Moreover the RFID system also permits the detection of themeasurement location, i.e. the position of the chip or pile of chips onthe playing area or layout. More detailed information on theconstruction, operation and use of such transponder chips is given notonly in WO 96/14115 A1 but also in Patents U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,589, U.S.Pat. No. 5,283 422 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,548, the last of which alsoproposes the use thereof for the game Craps (U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,548,FIG. 6).

If transponder chips are used and if the Craps gaming table comprisesradio technology equipment which, as mentioned in the foregoing, enablesnot only the playing value of the stake but also the playing section inwhich it has been placed to be defined, it is possible to dispenseentirely or partially with the use of occupation sensors for example inthe form of IR photo-diodes.

Moreover, in accordance with the prior art according to WO 96/14115 A1,it is basically known for the data on the events of the game obtained bymeans of technical devices to be supplied to a computer unit, and forthe computer to analyze the supplied data in accordance with the gamerules, retrievably store said data and if required display said data ona monitor. This too is utilized by the invention.

For the game Craps, which is played on a table with a length of severalmetres, it is advisable for the data which are to be continuouslydisplayed or made known to the players to be displayed in distributedfashion on a plurality of monitors. If the monitors are assigned tospecific portions of the gaming table, it is possible to display onlythe game moves and game results which have occurred in this assignedportion, thus for example the location at which the stake is placed, andthus optionally to simultaneously display the type of bet, as well asthe amount of the stake and finally the winnings or losses resultingfrom the shooter's throw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the layout of a Craps gaming table (without thegaming table cushion which surrounds the layout at a distance therefrom;the stakes placed by several players for a “don't come” bet in the formof chips are shown by the small circles; the lines dividing the PASSLINE into two times six sections are not actually present; the sectionsthus formed correspond to typical player positions;

FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement according to the invention forautomatically detecting the number of pips on the upper side of aplaying dice (in a purely systematic illustration).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To automatically detect whether and where on the gaming table for thedice game, a stake has been placed in the form of one chip or a pile ofchips, it is possible to use the same two technical principles employedin the case of the gaming table for the card game “Black Jack” knownfrom WO 96/14115 A1.

The first principle is based on providing occupation detectors under thegame cloth (layout), which, in a yes-no circuit, indicate whether a chipor pile of chips has been deposited or not at a defined location on theplaying area. Light-sensitive sensors (IR photo-diodes) are preferablyalso used as such occupation detectors for the game Craps. As theseoccupation detectors can now be assigned to defined locations orsections or lines on the layout of the playing area, an activatedoccupation detector can simultaneously also define the type of bet (e.g.“don't pass” or “don't come” or a number bet).

The other principle is based on the function of thetransmitting-receiving devices of the radio frequency identification(RFID) system arranged under the layout for the transponder chips. Asthe transmitting-receiving devices of the RFID system can be assigned todefined locations or sections or lines on the layout of the playingsurface, here again an activated transmitting-receiving device candefine the type of bet.

In order then to determine the value of the stake, if occupationdetectors (photo-diodes) were used, scanners known from WO 96/14115 A1could be employed to detect the playing value of the chips—or preferablytransponder chips are used. The particular conditions of the practicaluse of the gaming table or technical developments will allow one skilledin the art to decide whether he or she will use the Craps gaming tableequipped only with occupation detectors (photo-diodes) or only with theRFID system, or whether he will use both technologies or principles.

The objective of the invention, namely that games using dice and chipson a gaming table, in particular the highly diverse game Craps, beautomatically monitored and analyzed as far possible In respect of allplaying moves, and that the game results thereof be presented, can beimplemented in detail—as stated in the foregoing—using technologies andprinciples as disclosed in particular in WO 96/14115 A1 (and EP 0 790848 B1). These include the detection of the stakes, the detection of thetype of bets placed, the use and arrangement of a computer for analyzingthe supplied measurement data in accordance with the game rules, and thedisplay of required data and results on display devices or monitors.

Thus the entirely new partial objective of the invention, and the mainobjective of the invention consist of automatically detecting inerror-free manner the movement sequences of the playing dice in normalplay and the number of pips showing on the dice after they have beenthrown, whereupon these are analysed in accordance with the game rules.

For this purpose the system for the game Craps must be able to detect:

that the two dice have been thrown simultaneously in accordance with thegame rules along the longitudinal side of the gaming table;

that the two playing dice strike the cushion at the other end of thetable;

that the two playing dice have rebounded into the playing area or

whether one of the dice has left the playing area (has bounced over thecushion);

that the rebounding dice have come to rest;

and, as a main requirement, the number of pips showing on each dice, thesum of which forms the number of pips of the throw.

This main objective of the invention is achieved, as schematicallyillustrated by way of example in FIG. 2, by The apparatus 10 forautomatically detecting the number of pips S on the upper side of aplaying dice PD at least comprising: at least one optical device 12 forforming an image of at least a part of the playing surface PS of thegaming table, a digital image processor (DIP) 14 and a computer 16 whoseEDP program 18 is capable of determining the state of movement of thethrown dice and distinguishing the optical signals emanating from thepips or spots S of the upwardly facing side of the dice from the otheroptical signals of the gaming table, where such other signals arerecorded by the optical device. The computer 16 has an associated datamemory 20. The optical device 12—in the following also referred tosimply as camera—can comprise a TV camera or a specially designed CCDimage converter (CCD video signal input system), which sends its outputsignals to a digital image processor (DIP) 14. The digital imageprocessor (DIP) processes the received video signals in respect oftwo-dimensional conversion and resolution, spectral resolution and otherparameters, such that the primary detected image (TV-camera; CCD imageconverter) is digitally converted such that it can be detected andprocessed by an electronic data processing (EDP) program 18 downstreamof the image processor. A simpler image is formed by means of the EDPprocessing. Additionally, digital cameras are now available, providing adigital image comprising in the region of two million pixels, and theseare highly suitable for the purpose of the invention.

The main function of the EDP program is to detect the number of pipsborne by each of the dice and/or both dice together and optionally topreviously determine that the dice have been thrown, and to determinewhen the dice have come to rest.

In the following the apparatus defined in the invention for detectingand recognising the movement states and rest state of the dice on theplaying area will be explained in detail.

The arrangement can be designed for a continuously operating ordiscontinuously operating observation process.

For the continuous process the camera (TV camera; CCD image converter;digital camera) must make a continuous recording, the EDP program beingdesigned to correspond to a movement sensor such that it firstlyinterprets a fast and long trajectory of an object on the gaming tableas the throw of the shooter. An obvious disadvantage of the continuousprocess is that the camera continuously generates a high noise level andthat interference occurs due to the movement of the chips and the handsof the players and dealers. As a result, misinterpretations of the truestate of movement of the dice could occur more frequently via the DIPunit and EDP program. That is to say, the system could display throws ofthe shooter, which did not take place. As described later in thedescription, such misinterpretations can be reduced by equipping thedice with specific physical features, which permit a more selectivedetection of the trajectory of the dice.

A discontinuous process, in which the camera and at the same time theentire measurement system are not activated until the dice have actuallybeen thrown in accordance with the game rules, is considerably moreadvantageous. This is achieved by the use of movement sensors 22, whichswitch on the camera. In accordance with the invention, such a sensorconsists of a vibration—or pressure sensor in the cushion against whichthe thrown dice must strike. A plurality of such impact sensors 22 mustbe provided corresponding to the possible impact surface for the dice.When a knobbed coating is provided for the uncontrolled rebounding ofthe dice against the cushion, these sensors are advantageously alreadyincorporated in the material for the knobbed coating.

FIG. 2 shows a symbolic representation of such an impact sensor 22.

Only when both Craps dice strike the cushion and each thereof actuates asensor 22, is the camera activated. If only one dice impact is recorded,this will normally mean that, contrary to the game rules, the seconddice either has come to rest en route or has left the playing area as aresult of bouncing off an object on the playing area (chip; pile ofchips) or bouncing off the lateral cushion.

Because the table used in the game Craps has a length of one meter, itwill undoubtedly be insufficient to use only one camera. Rather, aplurality of cameras will be required, distributed over the table.Depending upon the camera type, camera quality, and other parameters,for example the technical features of the dice surfaces and/or the lightconditions, one skilled in the art will be capable of determining thenumber and arrangement geometry of the cameras, relative to thedimensions of the gaming table, necessary for efficient functioning.

If a plurality of cameras are used, it is correspondingly necessary toprovide a plurality of DIP units to form TV/CCD DIP systems, while theEDP program must be set up such that it correlates and analyzes all thesynchronously obtained images.

Irrespective of whether the camera operates continuously or is switchedon by the dice impact, the dice PD will move back from the cushion intothe playing area where they will come to rest, while the cameras mustrecord the images of the two stationary dice in addition to a largenumber of pictorial data, and the DIP and EDP system components mustrecognise the dice as such and in particular must determine and processthe number of pips thereof. The image of the gaming table, and/or ofthat portion of the playing surface PS for which the relevant camera isprovided and set up, is/are recorded by the cameras continuously or atany rate for a specific time interval following the dice impact. Herethe image data sent from the DIP 14 to the computer 16 are continuouslyanalyzed by means of the EDP program 18. As soon as two and moreconsecutive images are identical, this means that the dice are at astandstill. The EDP program 18 is constructed such that it is possibleto detect that both Craps dice have come to a standstill. Mostexpediently, this is affected using the same identification process withwhich the number of pips S on the upper side of the dice PD aredetermined as the dice come to a standstill. This identification processconsists of distinguishing the optical signals emanating from the pipsof the dice from the other optical signals of the images recorded by thecameras. Further details will be given later in the description.

As stated, the EDP program enables the stationary state of the dice tobe determined. When a plurality of cameras are provided, it can occurthat both dice are detected by the same camera or that the dice aredetected by different cameras. Moreover, the situation can occur thatone and the same dice is detected by two cameras, i.e. when it issituated in the overlap area between two adjacent cameras. Moreover itcan occur that only one single dice is detected. The EDP program 18 isprepared for all these situations. If, in the game Craps, only one diceis detected, this is defined by the EDP program as a mis-throw by theshooter and the throw is declared invalid.

If two cameras detect the same dice PD, a discriminator circuit musteliminate one of the two image recordings, preferably the one with theweaker signal.

The dice PD are detected by the measuring apparatus 10 comprising camera12, image processor 14 and computer 16 on the basis of the physicalfeatures of the pips (white spots) S of the dice; furthermore, therecognition of the dice as an object can be assisted by special opticalfeatures of the dice body. It is important that the pips S of the dicePD form a brightness contrast with their immediate or generalsurroundings.

Standard playing dice PD and colour filters 24 can be used for thispurpose. Standard playing dice are composed of a semi-transparentplastics material, which is coloured, preferably red. If a spectralcolour filter 24—see also FIG. 2 which absorbs the colour of the dice PDis positioned before the camera observing the image of the table, thedice body is depicted as a black structure with white spots,representing the pips of the dice, distributed thereon. If a dice isred, blue-green spectral glass filters 24 are thus used.

When the dice PD is in projectile motion, this technique generatesso-to-speak a black motion band with light tracks (from the pips of themoving dice) and provides an outstanding criterion for reducing theabove-mentioned misinterpretations.

Another method whereby the pips can be caused to stand out from the dicesurfaces and also from the other white dots and spots in theenvironment, consists in changing the luminosity of the pips or theirlight reflective properties. Corresponding examples will be given. IfUV-light radiators are arranged above the gaming table, UV-light-activecomponents can be added to the material for the dice pips to make thepips particularly shiny. The optical features of the dice pips can alsobe changed in characteristic fashion if the pips contain small (approx.1 mm) refractive prisms or if holograms are used for the pips instead ofwhite coloured spots. It would also be possible to use interferencemirrors on the dice pips; further details will be given in thefollowing.

The described measures do not merely serve to render the diceparticularly recognisable as the object to be identified by the camera;rather, the above described optical effects and special formations ofthe dice pips serve to permit a more reliable detection of the number ofpips on the upper, horizontal side of the dice and to enable the imageof the pips (the configuration of the 1 to 6 pips of the dice sides) onthe upper side of the dice to be distinguished from the “pip images” ofthe vertical sides of the dice which are also detected by the camera.

The detection of the actual number of pips on the upper side of the dicevia mathematical algorithms does in fact pose a specific problem for theEDP program 18 and for the construction thereof. Such algorithms mustfunction on the basis of the specified configuration of the white spotsor pips and the coordinates thereof; the mutual spatial configuration ofthe white spots and spot coordinates can be determined more clearly byincluding the position of the dice edges. In this case the dice edgesand dice corners can be defined by the digital image processor (DIP) 14on the basis of the differences in colour or brightness between thetable surface and the dice contours as a result of the spectralprocessing of the image.

Particular possibilities of eliminating interference signals emanatingfrom the pips of the vertical surfaces of the dice observed by thecamera will be described in the following.

One structural possibility consists in arranging the white colouredspots S of the pips on the base of a small recess and filling the recesswith a transparent material. In this case the white spots S can beobserved more or less only from above and no longer from a specifictangential angle of view.

Another structural possibility is based on the use of interferencemirrors, which operate in accordance with the following principles: Thereflection coefficient is dependent upon the angle of incidence. With anormal angle of incidence it is small whereas in the case of tangentiallight incidence it is approximately 100%. If small mirrors are nowarranged on the white spots, these reflect back the light tangentiallyfrom the surface in accordance with geometric light incidence rules.With a normal angle of incidence onto the surface, the light is mainlyreflected back by the mirror but dispersed by the white spots. Thus if alight source is arranged above the gaming table and the light fallsnormally onto the surface, only the light from the surface of the diceis reflected back and reaches the camera, while the light from the othersides of the dice is absorbed by the table surface.

Similarly, it is also advantageous to equip the dice PD with cornerreflectors, which reflect back the light to the light source. Thistechnique is very useful for withholding other white objects from theimage, such as white parts of chips and the like, because the whitespots of the dice surface are very much brighter than other whiteobjects on the table surface. In this case the light source should bearranged as close as possible to the camera.

The image analysis, i.e. the analysis of the images of the white dicespots (pips) detected by the camera(s) must now take place in thecomputer, such that the images containing the interference spots areeliminated, for example by a discriminator circuit, so that only thedesired images of the upwardly facing dice pips distinguished by theirbrightness value are detected and analyzed in accordance with the gamerules. One skilled in the art will be in possession of the requiredsoftware knowledge or will be able to avail himself or herself thereof.

A problem which arises in the case of a larger interval, in particularan oblique interval, between the camera and the dice to be measuredcould reside in the resolution of the camera. In particular in the caseof the 6-pip side of the dice, the white spots, i.e. the images of the 6white spots, could merge into one another. This could be easily remediedby the use of digital cameras, the resolution of which is everincreasing and which provide in the region of 2 million pixels and more.On the other hand it is possible to use zoom cameras, which, under thecontrol of the EDP program, enlarge the basic detected dice image.

A larger number of cameras above the playing area could also enable thedice object to be observed as vertically as possible, eliminating“noisy” white spots on the vertical dice surfaces.

Finally, the resolution of the dice image of 5 or 6 pips could beincreased by forming the white spots of the dice pips as two whitevalues or brightness values. A base area of for example light-greycolour bearing a really white spot would not be experienced by the humaneye as non-uniform in colour, but could readily be resolved in terms ofcolour by the camera. If such “really white spots” are thus arrangedcentrally in the base area of the pips, these spots can still beresolved by the camera if the images of the wider pips merge with oneanother.

Particular mention should be made of the technique of taking a camerashot under flash light in the event of an unclearly identified dice—andpip image. If the routine camera shot is unclearly defined, the EDPprogram 18 causes a camera 12 arranged nearest to the dice in thevertical direction and a flash lamp arranged as close as possible to thecamera 12 to operate in synchronism. The now recorded image of the dice,or possibly of both of the thrown dice, then provides a reproduction ofthe upper dice surface, which is not, or only slightly, affected byinterference spots.

At the latest at this time, the measuring arrangement switches off,unless it had already been switched off and had been re-activated onlyfor this control flash-light photograph.

It would also be possible for every measurement following the standstillof the dice to routinely conclude with such a flash-light photograph.

If, in spite of a flash-light photograph, the system is still ambiguousabout the number of pips on the dice, this would indicate that the diceis not lying flat but has come to rest obliquely on an object orobliquely between playing area and cushion so that the throw is invalid.In such a case the EDP program 18 will declare the shooter's throwinvalid so that the throw must be repeated.

The following details relate to the overall game system according to theinvention.

The data detected by each functional technical unit—including themeasuring arrangement for the number of pips on the dice, the chipdetection devices of the gaming table, and the stakes detector (scanner;RFID system)—are to be sent directly or indirectly as output signals toa central computer. This forwarding of the output signals can take placeeither by cable link or wirelessly, for example by radio datatransmission.

The function of the central computer is to analyze all the recorded datawhich it is sent in accordance with the EDP program and the game rules,display this data to the dealer and players if desired on one or morescreens or the like, and generally store it for later retrieval.

The acquired game data can also be utilized for an acoustic or opticaldisplay, if for example the dealer has made a game error or if themonitoring system is unable to clearly define the position (flat oroblique) and number of pips of the dice, in order then to alert thedealer to his supervisory and decision-making function. The stored gamedata can serve for the evaluation of dealers, players, individual gamedays or times of day, for statistical purposes and, particularlyobviously, for settlements between dealer and casino cashier.

To conclude the explanation of the invention, it should be noted thatthe apparatus defined in the invention for automatically detecting thenumber of pips need not remain limited to the number of pips of playingdice, but in principle is also suitable for determining the number ofpips of game objects other than dice, for example for monitoring andrecording the juxtapositioning of dominoes and game pieces for theChinese game Ma-Jongg.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for automatically counting pips onan upper-facing side or sides of at least one playing die, saidapparatus comprising at least one camera consisting of at least one TVcamera or at least one CCD image converter, a digital image processor(DIP) connected with said at least one camera for processing outputsignals from said at least one camera, and a computer receiving imagedata from said digital image processor, said computer having an EDPprogram comprising means for determining a movement state of the atleast one playing die over a playing area and means for determining atotal number of said pips on the upper-facing side or sides of the atleast one playing die when said at least one playing die comes to reston the playing area.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein saidat least one playing die consists of playing dice and said means fordetermining a movement state of the playing dice over said playing areacomprises means for determining whether or not said playing dice havebeen thrown simultaneously along a longitudinal side of a gaming tableproviding the playing area, whether or not one die of said playing dicehas left the playing area and means for determining whether or not saidplaying dice have come to rest on the playing area.
 3. The apparatusdefined in claim 1, further comprising a spectral filter, placed infront of said at least one camera, for absorbing coloured lightreflected by the at least one playing die.
 4. The apparatus as definedin claim 2, wherein said gaming table has a cushion, bounding theplaying area, and a plurality of impact sensors arranged in the cushionfor detecting an impact of the playing dice against the cushion.
 5. Theapparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said EDP program comprisesmeans for activation of said at least one camera for discontinuouscamera recording action in response to an impact signal from at leastone of the impact sensors and said impact signal is generated inresponse to said impact of said playing dice on said cushion.
 6. Theapparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one cameraconsists of a plurality of cameras arranged above the playing area forobserving respective sections or portions of the playing area.
 7. Theapparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flash lamp,controllable by the EDP program, arranged in the vicinity of each ofsaid at least one camera.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1,further comprising means for detecting white spots acting as said pipsarranged on respective bases of recesses and wherein said recesses areprovided in corresponding sides of the at least one playing die, inorder to prevent or reduce detectability from specific tangentialviewing angles.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising means for detecting respective refractive prisms on said atleast one die and wherein said respective refractive prisms act as saidpips or comprise said pips.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1,further comprising means for detecting a hologram on said at least onedie and wherein said hologram acts as said pips.
 11. The apparatus asdefined in claim 1, further comprising an interference mirror coveringsaid pips of the at least one playing die.
 12. The apparatus as definedin claim 1, further comprising means for detecting at least one ofcorners and edges of said at least one playing die and wherein said atleast one playing die is equipped with reflectors at least one of saidcorners and said edges to facilitate said detecting.
 13. A gamingapparatus for professional execution of table games using playing diceand chips, said gaming apparatus comprising: a gaming table with a gamecloth and sections, lines, areas or zones, predefined on the game cloth,for placement of said chips for said table games playing dice for saidtable games; means for automatically counting pips on upper-facing sidesof said playing dice including at least one camera and a digital imageprocessor (DIP) connected with said at least one camera for processingoutput signals from said at least one camera, said at least one cameraconsisting of at least one TV camera or at least one CCD imageconverter; means for detecting, analysing, displaying and storingsequences and data of game events; wherein said means for detectinganalysing, displaying and storing includes detectors arranged under thegame cloth of the gaming table for detecting which of said sections,said lines, said areas or said zones said chips occupy, means forautomatically detecting locations at which stakes in the form of thechips are placed and thus the type of bets placed, means for detectingvalues of the stakes detected by the means for automatically detecting,and a computer with an EDP program, created in accordance with gamerules, comprising means for analysing image data from the digital imageprocessor in order to determine a movement state of said playing dice ona playing area and in order to determine a total number of the pips onthe upper-facing sides of the playing dice when the playing dice come torest on the playing area, means for analysing signals from the means fordetecting the locations and the value of the stakes placed andoptionally means for analysing signals from other signal generators; andat least one display device for displaying analysed game course datarelating to game play supplied to said at least one display device fromsaid computer.
 14. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, whereinsaid at least one display device has a display screen.
 15. The gamingapparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said detectors, arranged underthe game cloth, for determining occupation or non-occupation of thesections, lines, areas or the zones provided for placement of the chipsare light-sensitive sensors for recording light passing through the gamecloth.
 16. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, furthercomprising respective chips with corresponding integrated transpondersand a radio frequency identification (RFID) device for detecting thelocation and the value of the stakes placed in the form of the chips,and wherein said radio frequency identification device comprises atransmitting and receiving station and said integrated transponderscooperate with said transmitting and receiving station, so that, inresponse to high-frequency data signals from the transmitting andreceiving station, the transponders send back data characteristic of aplay value of the chips by radio transmission to the transmitting andreceiving station, and wherein the transmitting and receiving stationincludes means for analysing said data characteristic of said playvalue.
 17. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein saidtable games include craps.
 18. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim13, wherein said means for analysing image data from the digital imageprocessor in order to determine said movement state of said playing dicecomprises means for determining whether or not said playing dice havebeen thrown simultaneously along a longitudinal side of a gaming tableproviding the playing area, whether or not one die of said playing dicehas left the playing area and means for determining whether or not saidplaying dice have come to rest on the playing area.
 19. The gamingapparatus defined in claim 13, wherein said means for automaticallycounting said pips on said upper-facing sides of said playing diceincludes a spectral filter, placed in front of said at least one camera,for absorbing coloured light reflected by the playing dice.
 20. Thegaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising a cushion,bounding the playing area, and a plurality of impact sensors arranged inthe cushion for detecting an impact of the playing dice against thecushion.
 21. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein saidEDP program comprises means for activation of said at least one camerafor discontinuous camera recording action in response to an impactsignal from at least one of the impact sensors and said impact signal isgenerated in response to said impact of said playing dice on saidcushion.
 22. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein saidmeans for automatically counting said pips on said upper-facing sides ofsaid playing dice comprises a flash lamp, controllable by the EDPprogram, arranged in the vicinity of said at least one camera.
 23. Thegaming apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said playing dice eachhave white spots arranged on respective bases of recesses acting as saidpips and said recesses are provided in corresponding sides of each ofsaid playing dice, in order to prevent or reduce detectability fromspecific tangential viewing angles.
 24. The gaming apparatus as definedin claim 13, wherein said playing dice each have respective refractiveprisms thereon acting as said pips.
 25. The gaming apparatus as definedin claim 13, wherein said playing dice each have at least one hologramthereon acting as said pips.
 26. The gaming apparatus as defined inclaim 13, wherein said playing dice each have an interference mirrorcovering said pips.
 27. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 13,wherein said playing dice each have reflectors at at least one ofcorners and edges thereof to facilitate detection.